Theory of a Deadman (Rock on the Range 2010)

MsBrandyRock: Now, I was looking at the band’s website and it’s been a while since I have seen the band live and I’m actually going to miss Theory of A Deadman today because I have other interviews going on. However, I saw beside the band’s logo the definition of heaven, is there significance in that?

Dean Back: I have no idea. I think that was just the artistic guy who put the website together. I’ll have to check it out I haven’t been on our website in a long time.

MsBrandyRock: Well, I think it’s in more than one place and it’s always right beside the logo.

Dean Back: Oh really?

MsBrandyRock: It says ‘a place or state of supreme happiness, she made his life heaven on earth’. So I didn’t know if that was in reference to the band’s name.

Dean Back: I think you are looking into it further than what we did.

MsBrandyRock: Ok, ‘Bad Girlfriend’ it was a big hit. To me it seems like it has been done a lot and I’m sure you may have heard that before. So I just want you to change my mind on that.

Dean Back: Right. Well I don’t know. That song was written 3, 4 years ago, so it’s just Tyler writing about his experience with meeting his wife. I don’t think there was a pre-conceived notion of trying to write something that has already been written. Ya know, it’s something that Tyler wrote from his heart. It’s true to him.

MsBrandyRock: Are you involved with any of the song writing or music writing?

Dean Back: Every song is different. There is collaboration between the three of us. Tyler writes the lyrics. There are ideas sent back and forth via email.

MsBrandyRock: My favorite song from Theory of A Deadman is ‘Nothing Could Come Between Us’ I know that’s an older song, but the reason why I like it is because I live in South Carolina now and I heard that song on the radio and that’s why I looked the band up because it mentions South Carolina.

Dean Back: Right.

MsBrandyRock: Is it based on a true story? Is it based on someone driving back and forth to South Carolina?

Dean Back: No, I think that was more just Tyler writing a song. We are also influenced by southern rock and roll like Lynard Skynard and that kind of stuff and that was just Tyler trying to connect the idea of the south and he was using it as a literary term. But no we didn’t know anyone from South Carolina. We’ve never been to South Carolina.

MsBrandyRock: No you have.

Dean Back: Not when the song was written.

MsBrandyRock: I think you were at Headliners in Columbia, South Carolina before it closed. But like 3 years ago you were supposed to be headlining the St. Patty’s Day Festival. But it got rained out.

Dean Back: Yeah. We were there. That was gonna be the very first show of ‘Scars and Souvenirs’ tour. 2008 or 2007 I don’t know. But, it was a long time ago. 4 Points or something?

MsBrandyRock: 5 Points. And I think you were rescheduled to come back I think with Black Stone Cherry.

Dean Back: Yeah we played a club.

MsBrandyRock: Have you ever heard of the music site Tunelab?

Dean Back. No.

MsBrandyRock: Well, my friend nICK he writes CD reviews for that site and he said “ ‘Bad Girlfriend’ is a guilty pleasure”.

Dean Back: Yep.

MsBrandyRock: He also went on to say you were “modern rock titans” concerning the latest CD because he said a number of “ballads could make waves at crossover radio stations”. Was that what Theory of a Deadman was thinking about?

Dean Back: No, when you write a ballad, when Tyler gets in the mood, he is a great ballad writer and writes beautiful stuff. And I think every band’s goal is to reach as many people as possible. We are still a rock band and will always be. Rock guys have hearts too.

MsBrandyRock: Yeah, even harder bands have slower songs even like Killswitch Engage.

Dean Back: Yeah, it’s like Corey Taylor has created a different thing.

MsBrandyRock: Kinda like the 80’s.

Dean Back: Yeah absolutely. Get the girls to the shows.

MsBrandyRock: What is Theory of a Deadman’s history prior to meeting Chad Kroeger of Nickleback? Were you playing local bars?

Dean Back: No, not at all. We were writing songs, working on our song writing craft. We played in a basement. We never played live. One of the big showcases for record labels was one of our first shows ever. We had records labels fly in from New York and Los Angeles to watch us play in the basement.

MsBrandyRock: Well, I’m sure you have played in other bands before. Was it kind of weird that it happened like that?

Dean Back: I mean, ya know, yeah. As soon as Chad decided that he wanted to start his own record company, it was only going to be a Canadian record company, so we wanted an American label as well. So we had about 5 or 6 record labels come and watch us play. We quit our jobs and things happened pretty quickly. Ya know, it has still been a gradual build to get to the place we are now.

MsBrandyRock: Do you think it would have happened as fast without him hearing your music?

Dean Back: No. We definitely owe him a lot. He gave us our shot.

MsBrandyRock: The Olympics this past year were you nervous about playing that?

Dean Back: Only because it is out of our comfort zone. To be playing in front of a television crowd, they had their own production, so they had a lot of things. We play 6 nights a week and we have everything down the way we like it. But when you put in a different production company, things aren’t how you are used to. And you are relying upon people you don’t know. So it was more about what could go wrong, then actually playing in front of 2 million people at home and 60,000 people in the stadium.

MsBrandyRock: Was it like a big deal though, since it was your home country?

Dean Back: Yeah, absolutely. Very big deal, very big honor.

MsBrandyRock: Was it something you were looking at doing or did someonr contact you?

Dean Back: The Olympic Committee called us. We were like, yes, yes. Just a great honor, a lot of fun. Great memory.

MsBrandyRock: Who was your first tour with?

Dean Back: 3 Doors Down. As soon as we came out in 2002 they were awesome to us, took us over to Europe. They treated us really well.

MsBrandyRock: Who are you most looking forward to seeing play today?

Dean Back: Slash, oh yeah for sure. I grew up listening to Guns N Roses, one of my main influences to playing live music.

MsBrandyRock: Have you ever seen him before?

Dean Back: Oh yeah, I’ve seen him before. Slash’s Snakepit came through Vancover in 1995. Hung outside his tour bus waiting for him, he came out and signed some autographs for me.

MsBrandyRock: Do you know who’s playing with him today?

Dean Back: Yeah, our old drummer is actually his drummer, Brent Fitz, who drummed with us and toured with us for ‘Gasoline’

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Press Pass from Brian Cade Photography at Muen Magazine.

Special thanks to nICK.

Special Archived Edition- FiXeR- April 2009

I have decided that I am going to give some sort of an introduction to myself. This makes sense since this is the first article I am writing. Growing up I listened to what my dad did. I don’t like “genres”, I like good music! But if you are curious, it was 80’s hair bands. The one that I latched onto was Bon Jovi. I thought all songs by others such as Poison and I’ll throw Aerosmith in (I know not a “hair band”) but regardless, I thought they were all by Bon Jovi. I guess that I do good latching because they are one of the few “hair bands” to stand the test of time.

Now my father is somewhat narrow-minded. I didn’t discover the likes of Ozzy and Motley Crue till much later. I will never forget when I first heard “Crazy Train” at a high school basketball game. My point with this is look into Ozzfest, now Cruefest, and I am going to include Shinedown here. The bands and people associated with these bands believe in ‘artists helping artists’. In today’s world this is somewhat absent and you have to dig to find it. I just happened to find one of the best thanks to Tunelab and a comment left on their myspace page by the lead singer of this band from New York City concerning Brian Cade Photography.

The name of this band is Fixer. And they will without a doubt be one of my generation’s greats. I know I’m not the first to utter kind words and I know I won’t be the last. They do things on their own terms, their management is located overseas. There are many hot rock bands on the rise and others making the money now, but what are they going to do when that major label drops them? Fixer embodies what fun and crazy ROCK N’ ROLL used to be, yet at the same time they are all very deep and balanced souls. By all means don’t feel obligated to take my word for it. Get out and go to a show! You will never get what I am trying to put into words unless you experience them live. It’s just impossible.


 Part 1: My Introduction to FIXER
The first time I saw Fixer was when they were opening on the Tunelab Music sponsored tour entitled “Horns Up, Tops Down”. The only reason I was there was because I had heard “So Long” by Stereoside on XM radio, looked them up online and saw they were going to be in Columbia, SC. Of course this date was nowhere to be found, not even on Headliners schedule of shows. I will get into further detail with this night when I do my write up on Stereoside.

So I got there late because I had a job interview and went shopping with my aunt. I had actually forgotten about the show and it was also during the week. I almost didn’t go because I was dragging. I had found out from a friend that they had already been thru town once before, something was telling me I HAD to suck it up and go. I did not see much of Fixer’s set. I remember the lead singer saying something about MTV’s “The Hills” and I thought to myself, why the hell would you mention that in Columbia, SC? I also thought he seemed a little odd.

This night was 09/25/08. It will forever and always be embedded in my mind. In fact it is probably fitting that I get it tattooed somewhere now that I think about it. A few days after the show I looked Fixer up online and I liked them a whole lot more, but I thought to myself, eh I’ll never see them again, they are from NYC and I live in South Carolina. I even mentioned them to my mom a few times and I included how I thought my first impression was completely wrong.

Well fast forward to 12/06/08, another date etched in my mind. Fixer was coming back and I was told they were headlining. I was uberexcited and Greedy White Citizens from Atlanta were playing the show as well. In the back of my mind I knew it wasn’t going to be a good turnout. Framing Hanley who had been getting some airplay had been in town 2 weeks prior with radio promo. I worked my booty off (free of charge, might I add) for that show as well.

PART 2: FIXER: Breaking My BoundariesI had already talked to J (the bass player at the time). He has this little project going on now J Brown Productions.

I was passing on a message from Nick at Tunelab about something from their show the night before. I also remember opening the tee tiny room that Headliners refers to as a green room. The door wasn’t locked and Evan (lead singer) was in there getting ready. He said something about me being all access and I said ‘yeah that’s right’.


So I am leaning against the bar. Evan comes up to me making small talk and then says hey do you mind if we crash at your place tonight? Ha! What? Well I said yes! We talked for some time before they hit the stage. This conversation included the little review of Fixer in The Free Times. I was shocked that they made it in there, but then utterly disappointed because all P. Wall did was bash Guns N Roses new CD. Bravo! Awesome Review! Oh! But so what does Evan say while on stage? That he has been made aware if the review and is looking at me! Lovely!
After the show the bands were not done packing up yet. This included Uncrowned from Atlanta who actually had played shows with Fixer and of course GWC. So they are all catching up. I hear dude at bar say something smart. I really have the urge to slap him in the face but because the “promoter” left it looks like I am responsible for things. But then Rev (Fixer’s drummer) decides to do the worm, so that alleviated all my worries.

By this time, Evan already had my number. Tommy (Fixer guitar) already had my address entered in his phone.


PART 3: FIXER: “The After Party”
We are at the “dance club” next door. We as in Fixer, Uncrowned, and myself. This inebrieated dude and Rev are having and in depth conversation. I have a Fixer sticker on me. I hear Rev say Fixer, so I model the sticker. This was not one of my brightest ideas because dude was really a weirdo. I have discovered since this time if I talk to Rev it equals weirdos. Tommy, J, and Uncrowned are catching up. I’m not sure where Evan is. Sticker weirdo keeps trying to hit on me. Rev and I just start dancing. This didn’t work. He wouldn’t go away. So we turn our backs and face the bar.

Last call 2 am. I already had one beer, the only one all night. At 2:10 am Element shuts all the lights on and start screaming for everyone to get out NOW! There were still people dancing. Bouncer singles me out and yells that I need to walk and drink. No one says anything. Rev chugs my beer. I’m trying to round all the guys up, knowing they have been in worse, they are from New York City and Atlanta. So they probably think I am the crazy one.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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This was the feature story in the short lived Soundmag (print distribution in SC, NC, GA, FL).

To my knowledge this was the first time Fixer had ever made the cover of anything and it was also the first time Brian Cade had a picture on the cover of a print publication. 

To date this has been viewed 352 times on my myspace page.  There were some grand comments that have all disappeared.  I also just realized I accidently deleted all of the photos.  Special thanks to Morgan Barton as well as Sassy Photography of Shock and Awe Productions.

All of this means if you have one of the print copies I'm sure it is now a limited edition item.

In honor of this occasion please head on over to http://www.evanrussellsaffer.com/. 

***EVIL GRIN***